Buyer Praises VA Initiatives in Preparing for Hurricane Gustav

Buyer Praises VA Initiatives in Preparing for Hurricane Gustav

Washington, D.C. — Today, Committee Ranking Republican Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) received an updated situational report from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Peake on the Department’s preparation for Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna.

“In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, three years after the monumental failures of local, state, and federal agencies surrounding Hurricane Katrina, I commend Secretary Peake for his proactive actions to safeguard veterans and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas,” said Buyer.

Hurricane Gustav is expected to make landfall along the coast near the Texas-Louisiana border sometime Monday, and VA is already coordinating with other federal and local agencies to protect patients, staff, and provide operational capability in the entire Gulf Coast region.  Buyer, who served on the House Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina further stated, “The Department of Homeland Security has learned from the painful lessons of Katrina, and is on site and actively engaged in providing a unified command structure among federal, state, and local agencies for this impending natural disaster.”

VA facilities throughout the region have been transferring and tracking hospitalized and special needs patients to safe locations, and preparing for continuity of operations.  VA has deployed a mobile pharmacy in anticipation of increased medication needs, and ensured continuous access to VA’s patient electronic medical records.

Fulfilling VA’s fourth mission, to provide contingency support to the Department of Defense and the Public Health Service during times of disaster or national emergency:

• The VA Southern Louisiana Healthcare System has evacuated at-risk patients;
• Little Rock, Oklahoma City and Dallas VA Federal Coordinating Centers have been activated and are already receiving National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) patients;
• Seven additional VA Federal Coordinating Centers remain on alert for NDMS activation; and VA has activated two toll-free, 1-800 numbers for patient and employee assistance.

Additionally, veterans receiving monthly compensation for disabilities, education, pension or other benefits will continue to receive regularly scheduled payments.

For more news from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Republicans, please go to: http://republicans.veterans.house.gov